Mechanism for printing boxes.



H. A. STILLWBLL.

MECHANISM FOR PRINTING BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 8, 1909. Patented Dec. 13,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

MW 17 Arrow/Emv WITNESSES: Mm/

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H. A. STILLWE IQ.

MECHANISM FOR PRINTING BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1909.

INVENTOR 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

JM HM;

ATM/ME WITNESSES.-

H. A. STILLWELL. MECHANISM FOR PRINTING BOXES. APPLIIOATION rmm SEPT. a,1909.

Pafented Dec. 13,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R a I N v u 5 WITNESSES:

I 'HIIHH llll ll" 1 Arm/Mfrs.

HOWARD A. STILLWELL, OF WOODBURY, NE

w JERSEY, ,nssronon 'ro E. 1. DU PONT DE NEMOURS POWDER COMPANY, OFWILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed september8, 1909. Serial No. 516,653.

MECHANISM FOR PRINTING BOXES.

. Patented Dec. 13, 19 10.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD A. STILL- WELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residingat Woodbur county of Gloucester, and State of New Jiirand-useful Improvement in Mechanism for Printin Boxes, of which thefollowing is a full, c ear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,

ing drawings, and then out the invention in the c aims.

which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to auto matically print addresses, namesor titles upon the sides orends of boxes and thus avoid the presentcumbersome method of stenciling.

I will first describe the embodiments of my invention as shown in the,accompanyarticularly po nt Figure 1 is a general side elevation of themachine. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the operating lever. Fig. 3is a partial elevation of the opposite side of the machine.

"Fig. 4-iS a partial plan view on line 4-4,

by the cross piece g, which cross piece is connected by means of a bolt72. in a longitudinal slot 2' in the side walls of the chute, so thatthe position of the cross piece 9 with reference to the length of thechute may be determined,- and thus the chuteis adjusted for varyingsized boxes; Connected to this chute e is the spring j secured at the.other end to a fixed part of the machine. The chutee.

has a projection or car 70.

Z is a lever mounted on a rock shaft f and adapted in its movement inonedirection to strike a projection on the ear or lug k and turn thehchute.nected by.means of the link me with the lever n pivoted at 0. When thelever 12 is allowed to fall at its outer end, it .will, through themedium of the before described mechanism, tilt the chute against theaction of the spring, and when the lever 'nis raised, the spring j willmove the chute backward, and by the weight of the chute,

sey, have invented a new,

This lever Z is conposition.

When the boxes are fed forward by the conveyer and onto the chute, andthe lever fallsas described, the box is .tllted to a vertical positionand placed. pon the rojectionof the truck 4. Thistruck is provide withthe projectin pins 1' which enter the box' and steady thesame.This-truck is mounted on wheels a traveling in the frame t of themachine.

u is a pro'ection from the truck having the vertical'slot a in which isroller w. This roller is carried by and between'the chains g, whichchains pass around the sprocket wheels 2. The roller 1 is mounted on thearm 2, projecting from the truck This roller lies beneath and againstthe ever n. The lower portionof lever-n is cam-shaped, as shown in Figs.1, 2 and 3, so that, as may be seen, in the travel of the truckthe'roller 1 will, during a portion of the movement of.

the truck, support the lever n .in its u per position, while in anotherportion 0 ,its movement it allows the lever to move on its pivot,tilting the chute, and in the return movement w1ll for a time maintainthe lever down and then lift the lever.

The operation of the mechanism so far described. 1s as follows: With abox delivered into the chute and the truck in its forward position readyto'receive the box, the roller will be in such osition that the lever nwill have moved on 1ts pivot to swing the chute, as shown in Fig. 6, thebox being then received upon the'projection from thetruck, and the truckwill move rearward, carryin the box. The movement of the true r throughthe medium of roller 1 will lift the lever,.allo.wing the chute toreturn to its horizontal POSltlOIl. The box carried by the truck willfirst pass under the printing rolls 3, which may be of any number,dependent upon the number of colorsor impressions desired. After passingunder these printing rolls, the depending box strikes the pins 5 whichprojecting from the frame and extending over the truck, strikes the boxat its upper end, and it will drop on the conveyer 6 below the truck,which conveyer car- 105 ries it out of the machine.

In order to (prevent a box being moved by the conveyor (1 while thechute is not in hori-- zontal position, I provide dogs or catches 7connected to lever 25, which lever is acted it will be final-1y returnedto its horizontal i .upon by the spring 8 to ,normally hold'theprojecting from the truck 9 strikes the dog 15, which by contact withpin 16, moves the feeding of boxes and moving bar 11 to its wheel 29, onthe shaft of which is the belt conveyer 6.

, manner: The truck is reciprocated backward wheel 32 for the conveyera. 6 1s driven by means of a sprocket wheel 27 catches in their uprightand operative position. The lever 25 is connected to the rod 9, which isin turn connected with the vertical rod or lever 10 connected at itsupper end with the ba-r 11 extending along the frame of the I machine.At the outer end. of this rod is the locking device consisting of thelatch 12 l pivoted on pin 120 adapted to lock with the detented end ofthe bar 11. This latch 12 is operated by the spring 13, one end of whichis connected to pin 130 on latch 12. The other end of the spring isconnected to the frame of machine. Mounted upon this latch'12 isthestriking-01f dog 14. This dog 14 is pivoted on pin 120.

140 is a pin 011 bar 11.

15 1811. dog. pivoted to the frame of the machine, and 16 is a pin uponthe'rod or bar 11 contacting with said dog.

In the rearward movement of the truck 9 and after it has received a box,a pin 17 bar. 11 rearward until it engages and is locked by the lockinglatch 12. -This moves the stop 7 so that a box can be fed into thechute. On the further movement of the truck, thepin 1T strikes thereleasing dog 1- moving it until its free end strikes pin 110, furthermovement raises that end of rod 11, lifting the detent out of engagementwith latch 12, releasing the locking latch 12 and allowing the spring 8to return the stops 7 tooperative position, thus preventing any forwardposition. O11 the return movement of the truck the pin 17 -passes freelythe dog 15.

160 is a pin on latch 12 for limiting the downward movementof dog 14.

The 'parts are driven in the following and forward by the followingmechanism leading from the pulley 18. Upon the shaft of this pulley 18is the gear 19 which meshes with the gear 20. Upon the shaft of the gear20 are the sprocket wheels 21.- These sprocket wheels 21, by means ofthe chains 22, drive thesprocket wheels on the shafts of which are oneset of the sprocket wheels i The conveyer a is driven in the followingmanner: Upon the shaft of the gear' 20 is a pulley 24 which. by means ofa belt 25, is connected with the pulley 26. Upon the shaft of thispulley 2-6 is the conveyor belt The conveyer on the shaft of the pulleywheel 26 from which a chain 28 passes to the sprocket It will be noticedthat the lever n has'the cut-away po1't1on 6,las shown in Figs. 1'

and 2, which comes into action in the initial the printing rolls. 'Itwill'be noted further 1 that with this mechanism there is no danger ofthe box being broken in the operation, for the strain upon it at any.time 1sno greater than the weight of the pivoted lever 11.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for printing upon boxes, incombination, a truck adapted to reciprocate, printing rollsbeneathvvhich said truck passes, a conveyer, a chute, inline with saidconv' yer, mounted to swing from a horizontti l to a vertical position,mechanism for swinging said chute controlled by said-truck in itsmovement.

2. Ina machine for printing upon boxes,

in combination, a truck adapted to reciprocate, printing-rolls beneathwhich said truck passes, a conveyer, a chute, in line with saidconveyor, mounted toswing from a horizontal toa vertical position,mechanism'ftu' swinging said chute controlled by said truck in itsmovement, and means to close the entry to said chute when said. chute isin a vertical position. 3. I11 an apparatus of the character described,in combination, a reciprocating truck, a chute, said chute being mountedto be movable from a horizontal to a vertical position to receive thearticle and deliver it to the truck, mechanism for tilting said chute,said mechanism being controlled by the truck in its movement.

4.111 an apparatus of the-character dcscribed, in combination, areciprocating truck, a chute. said chute being mounted to be movablefrom a horizontal to a vertical position to receive the article anddeliver it to the truck, mechanism for ilting said chute, said mechanismbeing controlled by the truck in its movement, and a conveyer to deliverthe article to the chute.

In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, areciprocatii'ig truck, a chute, said chute being mounted to be movablefrom a horizontal to a Vertical position to receive the article anddeliver it to the truck, mechanism for tilting said chute, saidmechanism being controlled by the truck in its movement,'a conveyer tode liver the articles to the chute, and means to hold the articles onthe conveyer from movement when the chute is in a vertical position.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, areciprocating truck adapted to enter and hold an open box-like articleto be printed, and a swinging chute adapted to receive and deliver thearticle to the truck.

T. In an apparatus of the character described, in' combination, areciprocating truck adapted .to holdthe article to be printed, aswinging chute adapted to receive and deliver the article to the truck,a conveyer to carry the article to the chute, and a knockoff device forreleasing the article from the truck.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, areciprocating.

truck adapted to hold the article to be printed, a swinging chuteadapted to receive and scribed, in combination, a reciprocatingt-ruckadapted to hold the article to be printed, a swinging chute adapted toreceive and deliver the article to the truck, mechanism for swingingfsaid chute, said mechanism being controlled by the truck during itsmovement. 10. In an apparatus of the character described, incombination, a reciprocating truck adapted to holdthe article to beprinted, a swinging chute adapted to receive and' deliver the article tothe truck, a pivoted lever to swing said chute vertically, a rollersupporting said lever,- the face of said lever coacting with said rollerhaving a portion cut away above the line of travel of said roller,whereby said lever descends swinging said chute.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, 'a reci'rocating truck adapted to hold the artic e to be printed, a swingingchute adapted to receive and deliver the article to the truck. a pivotedlever to swing said chute vertically,

a roller supporting said lever, the face of said lever coacting withsaid roller having a portion cut away above the line 'of travel of saidroller, whereby said lever descends swinging said chute, and anotherportion extending below the line of travel of said roller, whereby saidroller lifts said lever, allowing said chute to return to the horizontal)OSltlOIl.

1'2. ii an apparatus of the character described, in combination, areciprocating truck adapted to hold the article to-be printed, aswinging chute adapted to receive and deliver the article tothe-tfiiick, 2 conveyer to carrythe 'article' to the chute, and means tohold the article from movementwith the conveyer when the chute isdelivering an article to the truclc 13. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, in combination, a reciprocating truck adapted to hold thearticle to be printed, a swinging chute adapted to receive and deliverthe article't-o the truck, a conveyer to carry the article to the chute,means to hold the article on the conveyor from movement with theconveyor when the chute is delivering an article to the truck, andmechanism in line of travel of the truck for controlling the operationof said holding means. I

14. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, areciprocating tr'u'pk adapted to hold the article to be (printed, aswinging chute adapted to receive and deliver the article to the truck,a .conveyer to carry the article to the chute, holding dogs adjacent tothe chute movable in alinement with the article on the conveyer in themovement of the chute to deliver to the truck.

scribed, truck adapted to hold the article to be printed, a swingingchute adapted to'receive and deliver the article to the truck, a coningdogs adjacent to the chute movable in and out of line of travel of thearticle on the conveyer, a rod, connected with said dogs, extendingalong the line of travel. of said truck, a ocking device for said rod, aivoted dog from said rod in line of travel of the truck, said dog beinactive in one direction of movement of t e truck, and when struck movingthe rod into engagement'with the locking device, and a releasingdevicein line of travel of the truckand active in the opposite direction ofmovement of the truck.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, -a recirocating truck adapted to hold the artic e to be printed, a swingingchute adapted to receive and deliver the article to the truck, aconveyer to carry the article to the chute, holding dogs adjacent to thechute movable in and outof line of travel of the article on the truck, aocking device for said rod, a ivoted dog from said rod in l ne of traveof the truck, said dog bein active in one d1- struck moving the rodintoengagement with the lockingdevice, a releasing device in line oftravel of the truck and active in the opposite direction of movement ofthe truck,

dogs in active posit-ion.

17. In an apparatus ofthe character described, the combination" with themovable truck and the'chute. mounted to swing from a horizontal to avertical position, of

'ment, a support for said lever carried by said truck, the face of saidlever, contacting 15. In an apparatus of the character de incombination, a reciprocating iection of movement of t ie'truck, and whenand out of line of travel of the article on the conveyer, means to movesaid dogs in v I veyer to carry the article to the chute, holdconvever,a rod, connected with said dogs, extendin along the line of travel ofsaid and a springnormallyholding said holding the pivoted lever forcontrolling said mov'ewith said support in one direction of mov'ement ofsaid truck, being cut upward to al low said lever to descend.

18. In an apparatus'of the character described, the combination with themovable truck and the chute mounted to swing from a horizontal to avertical position, of the pivoted lever for controlling said movement, asupport for said lever carried by said truck, the face of said lever,contacting With said support in one direction of movement of said truck,being cut'upward to allow said lever to descend, and, in the other direction of movement of said truck, being formed for a certain distanceto maintain said lever in'the last mentioned position" and then cutdownward to cause said support to elevate said lever.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with themovable truck and the chute mounted to swing from a horizontal to avertical position, of the pivoted lever for controlling said movement, asupport for said lever carried by said truck, the face of said lever,contacting with said support in one direction of movement of said truck,being cut upward to allow said lever-Ito descend, and, in the otherdirection of movement of said truck, being cut downward to cause saidsupport to elevate said lever.

I11 testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set myhand, at-VVoodbury, N. J., on this 27" day of August, 1909.

' HOWARD A. STILLVVELL. l/Vitnesses:

ERNEST REDFIELD,

IOLA REDFIELD.

